Minimum infection prevention and control requirements for independent wound management facilities: a measured approach

Abstract

In the independent wound management facility (IWMF) environment, infection prevention and control (IPC) practice is seldom measured and recorded. Furthermore, no standardised IPC recommendations are available for the IWMF in South Africa. No baseline data is available on current infection control practices in preventing healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and antimicrobial resistance in wound management facilities. This raises two important questions: Firstly, are IWMFs adhering to national and international IPC requirements to provide protection and safety to patients, health care providers and visitors? Secondly, what should the minimum requirements of IPC core components look like in the IWMF?